John Singleton
Biography
John Daniel Singleton was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was born on January 6, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, and died on April 28, 2019, at the age of 51. As a native of South Los Angeles, many of his films consider the implications of inner-city violence, including Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, and Baby Boy. He later branched out into mainstream territory with the films 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers. His known credits include fifty entries in directing, and he is also associated with works such as American Crime Story, Snowfall, and And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop.
Career overview
John Daniel Singleton was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer born on January 6, 1968, in Los Angeles, California. He passed away on April 28, 2019, at the age of 51. As a native of South Los Angeles, his filmmaking career encompassed a total of fifty known credits with a primary focus on directing. Many of his motion pictures examined the implications of inner-city violence. Among his notable directorial works are the critically acclaimed and popular films Boyz n the Hood, Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, and Baby Boy.
Later in his career, Singleton branched out into more mainstream territory. During this phase, he directed the blockbuster films 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers. In addition to his feature film work, he is known for his involvement with projects such as American Crime Story, Snowfall, and And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop. Throughout his professional life, his contributions to the medium as a director, writer, and producer left a substantial body of work documented across film and television databases.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
67 titles- The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (2026) Original Series Creator
- Hollywood Black (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- F9 (2021) In Memory Of
- Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking (2021) as Self
- Mosagallu (2021) Executive Producer
- De'aundre Bonds - Drunk and Disorderly (2019)
- Snowfall (2017) Director
- Snowfall (2017) Executive Producer
- Snowfall (2017) Creator
- L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later (2017) as Self
- L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later (2017) Executive Producer
- Billions (2016) Director
- American Crime Story (2016) Director
- Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (2016) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Empire (2015) Director
- Trojan War (2015) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Abduction (2011) Director
- These Amazing Shadows (2011) as Self
- The Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood' (2011) as Self
- Marion Jones: Press Pause (2010) Director
- 30 for 30 (2009) Director
- Turning Up the Heat: Movie Making in the 60's (2008) as Self
- Illegal Tender (2007) Producer
- Black Snake Moan (2006) Producer
- Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters (2006) as Self
- Four Brothers (2005) Director
- Hustle & Flow (2005) Producer
- Hip-Hop Honeys | Las Vegas (2005) as Self
- America Beyond the Color Line (2004) as Self
- The Force Is with Them: The Legacy of 'Star Wars' (2004) as Self
- Baadasssss! (2004) as Detroit J
- Time Out (2004) Executive Producer
- 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) Director
- Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend (2003) as Self
- Baby Boy (2001) as Man Selling Bootleg Movies (uncredited)
- Baby Boy (2001) Writer
- Baby Boy (2001) Producer
- Baby Boy (2001) Director
- Shaft (2000) as Bored Cop with Tea Cup (uncredited)
- Shaft (2000) Director
- Shaft (2000) Producer
- Shaft (2000) Screenplay
- Shaft (2000) Story
- Woo (1998) Executive Producer
- Rosewood (1997) Director
- Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery (1997) as Self
- Higher Learning (1995) Writer
- Higher Learning (1995) Director
- Your Studio and You (1995) as John Singleton
- Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits: HIStory (1995) Director
- Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) as Fireman
- Sembène: The Making of African Cinema (1994) as Self
- Poetic Justice (1993) as Colette's Man (uncredited)
- Poetic Justice (1993) Director
- Poetic Justice (1993) Producer
- Poetic Justice (1993) Writer
- Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films (1993) as Self (uncredited)
- Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films (1993) Director
- Birth of a Nation: 4.29.92 (1993) as Self
- Michael Jackson: Remember The Time (1992) Director
- Boyz n the Hood (1991) as The Mailman (uncredited)
- Boyz n the Hood (1991) Director
- Boyz n the Hood (1991) Writer
- Chameleon Street: The Black Film They Could Not Sell (1991) as Self - Director, 'Boyz N' the Hood' (archive footage)
- Yo! MTV Raps (1988) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Singleton best known for?
John Singleton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Drop: A Snowfall Saga (2026), F9 (2021), Snowfall (2017), Snowfall (2017).
When and where was John Singleton born?
John Singleton was born on January 6, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, USA. They passed away on April 28, 2019.
How many credits does John Singleton have?
John Singleton has accumulated over 67 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1988 to 2026.
What is John Singleton's background in cinema and television?
John Daniel Singleton was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was born on January 6, 1968, in Los Angeles, California, and died on April 28, 2019, at the age of 51. As a native of South Los Angeles, many of his films consider the implications of inner-city violence, including Boyz n the Hood, Poet...
John Singleton by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Boyz n the Hood (1991) as The Mailman (uncredited) — aged about 23
- Baby Boy (2001) as Man Selling Bootleg Movies (uncredited) — aged about 33
- Poetic Justice (1993) as Colette's Man (uncredited) — aged about 25
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self — aged about 47
- Shaft (2000) as Bored Cop with Tea Cup (uncredited) — aged about 32
- Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) as Fireman — aged about 26
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